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*The Pillars of Community XV: *
*Community & Unity*
*Philippians 2:1-11*
*/April 19, 2009/*
*Prep: *
· Sermon 11, Cecil’s conflict sermon
· EDASC notes, notes
· All passages, unity verse (in leftovers)
Intro: Importance of unity
· We are back in our *series* on *community*, driven by our *mission* *statement*, which I should have *memorized* now after the *video*.
Obviously, unity is *essential* for community.
Without it, community is just a *farce*, like a *couple* that seems *fine* till they get *divorced* – there were *cracks* just below the surface.
*Superficial* *unity* is easy: 1)Keep your group *small* *enough* that you never disagree or annoy each other, which is unacceptable to those who genuinely want to *engage* their *culture*.
· Unity takes more *effort* the *bigger* we get.
· But God is blessing us in both *numbers* and *diversity*.
2) Keep things so *surface* *level* we never have to deal with *differences* or *disagreements*, which is unacceptable to those who *genuinely* want *community*.
· *Conflict* is vital to *closeness*.
The real *question* is not “Is unity imp*o*rtant?”
but “How can we be *unified* as a church body as we *grow* and become more *diverse*?”
· Today we’ll study Phil.
2:1-11 and five key element of unity.
Prayer
Thank you that the church is *more* *unified* in diversity than I’ve ever known it to be.
As Jesus said, may we be *known* for *love*.
To the Philippians
As I looked at all of the *passages* on unity, this covers it best, and not just because I’ve preached on this passage.
Philippians is one of my favorite books.
Rather than having to deal with *dysfunction*, they are relatively *healthy*, but there is a little problem with *discord* (compared to the Corinthians).
Even in a *healthy* church, disunity is an *ever* *present* *challenge*, because everything in our *sinful* *nature* pulls against it.
Pride and selfishness are always at work to pull the community apart, so we *always* have to *pull* it *back* together.
*Philippians 2:2-4 * 2 ...make my joy complete by being like-minded,
having the same love,
being one in spirit and purpose.
3 Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit,
but in humility consider others better than yourselves.
4 Each of you should look not only to your own interests, but also to the interests of others.
“Be like minded” in a common expression that means be unified.
It does not mean that we are a bunch of *mindless* *zombies* that don’t think for themselves, but rather that there is *harmony* within the *diversity*, as we shall see soon.
Paul describes five elements that are keys for unity:
1.
Love and affection for each other
2. Being united in purpose
3.
Not building our own kingdom
4. Be humble
5. Serve each other
*Love & Affection*
“Same love” either means having the same love for *each* *other* among yourselves or having the same love *as* *Jesus* had.
In either case, the first element is love, which is not surprising.
Without love, *community* is *impossible*, because love is basically caring for *someone* *else*, and community is about the other.
· While love is first of all a *choice*, and not an emotion, we would be *unwise* to *leave* it there.
“*Ministry* would be *great* if it weren’t for the people.”
I *hate* that *joke*!
A *genuine* *affection* for those I serve is vital.
Likewise, mutual affection for *each* *other* is vital to unity.
· You can’t just *love* each other; you need to *like* each other!
Not only does affection make community more *enjoyable*, but if we don’t like each other, it easy to *assume* the *worst*, spread *gossip*, and be impat*i*ent.
It’s easier for Satan to *sow* *discord*.
· Affection is to *disunity* what *vitamin C* is to the cold season: It makes you *less* *likely* to get *sick* and you *recover* *quicker*.
Q *Who* in this community rubs you the wrong way?
Here are a couple of *tips*:
1.
Pray for a change of attitude, see as God sees.
2. Pray sincerely for well-being and growth.
3. Look for the good.
4. Be patient with the progress.
5. Remember someone is going through the same process for you!
Bottom line: *Strive* to *like* everyone here!
Uni-diversity
The next element is “being one in spirit and purpose.”
*Unity* does not mean *uniformity*, rather it is a common *goal* and *purpose*, like a *body* under one *head*.
*Ephesians 4:15-16 * ...we will in all things grow up into him who is the Head, that is, Christ.
16 From him the whole body, joined and held together by every supporting ligament, grows and builds itself up in love, as each part does its work.
· It is like a *symphony*, with many instruments, but one *goal* and one *conductor*.
When all of our different *skills*, *abilities*, and *perspectives* are united by a common spirit to achieve a common goal, we find that the more *powerful* *unity* within *diversity*, “*uni*-*diversity*”!
· It *doesn’t* mean we *agree* on everything or always *get* *along*.
Where this is *life* there is *conflict*, and that is okay.
A *cemetery* is the only conflict free gathering of people.
Where there are *differences*, there will be *disagreements*.
· To a *point*, we are *better* and *stronger* for our difference.
Are you IN harmony?
I say “to a point” because there’s a point when the differences are *too* *great* to allow folks to work together.
There has to be *harmony* in the *church*, agreement in spirit and purpose.
Unity occurs on *two* *levels* and crucial on both: 1) *all* *believers* and 2) in *each* *congregation*.
In *both* areas, unity means we recognize that we’re part of the *same* *family*, we’re on the same *team*, and we have the same *objectives*.
The difference lies in the *degree* of *harmony* need:
· Unity with Christians from *other* *churches* only requires agreement on the *main* *points* – Jesus being *Lord* and *Savior*.
· Unity within a church requires *some* level of *agreement* on core *theology*, the church’s *mission*, core *values*, and *methodology*.
In order for us to be a unified community, we need to agree on these *core* elements.
If you think that Christians should *isolate* themselves from the world, you might have a hard time here!
· There is *lots* of *right* ways to do church, this is one.
· We have had several folks *leave* the church in the past year because the church no longer fits them, and that’s *okay*.
Building the right kingdom
Next Paul says, “Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit...” Few things can destroy unity faster than *selfish* *ambition*.
Elsewhere in context of the church body, Paul says:
*Colossians 3:5 (NIV) *Put to death, therefore, whatever belongs to your earthly nature: sexual immorality...and greed, which is idolatry.
The main *emphasis* is on “*Greed*”.
Our Greek prof. said “greed” was a reference to a *lust* for *power*.
We though it strange that Paul put more emphasis on that then on *sexual* *immorality*.
he said, “That because you’re *not* *married* and all you can think about is *not* *having* *sex*.
Sexual *immorality* is *damaging*, but nothing compared to damage from *power* *struggles* in the church.”
· Whenever we are more interested in *building* *our* personal kingdom than *God’s*, we will destroy unity.
pride & Humility
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